As I sat down and thought about writing this blog, I wondered how I could make white fiber and an incredible number of hours seem like fun. I decided that only one who enjoys the process of taking the fiber from raw to finished could understand. And it would probably be the same if I had a piece of wood with which I was planning to make a fancy planter, or paints to create a photo. I cannot create the fancy planter or paint the picture, so am happy to purchase from someone who can.
As I brush the dogs, I save what is fairly clean to spin. The above is a pile of Pyrenees dog wool, which has soft undercoat mixed with the hair. I will spin wool and alpaca to ply with it. It will give me hours and hours of enjoyment while I think of those before us who had to make clothes this way. After I spin and ply it, I will select a pattern (probably a hat) to knit. Then in years to come, I will have a memory of these special dogs.
This a good look at hours and hours and hours and more hours of spinning. When spinning, a little fiber gives hours of enjoyment. I can’t think of another hobby that ones can get so much fun for the cost.
When the weather warmed up enough to go out and work, I did get another row and a half cleared of weeds and potatoes planted. As you can see in the darker areas, there are some volunteers from last year. I think we will try putting black plastic on the hillsides between the rows as there is just too much hill and too steep to keep it under control.
